The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-28
THE STRIKE NOT ENDED.
Reading Railroad Employees Get Mad
and Decide to Fight.
Discharged Strikers Beg PItIfuIIy 70
be Taken Back.

| be Taken Back.
much Trouble Said TO be Brewing
on the Pennsylvania.
| CLEVELAND, o., Dec. q. 1t Is stated that
the Pennsylvania railway, west Of Pitts
burg, is in danger Of trouble with its brake
men and engineers. The trouble has been
| brewing for several months. The Cleveland
& Pittsburg division agreed TO discontinue
the running of double headers" This was
not done, and several committees waited
upon the General Superintendent recently.
The men affected are ebout 5000, and the
lines include the Cleveland 4 Pittsburg. the
Plttsburg, Fort Wayne q Chicago, the Pan
Handle and numerous other smaller branches
controlled by the Pennsylvania. A commit
tee has been appointed to lay the grievances
before President Roberts.
The Reading Affair.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27.-The executive
committee Of the Reading railroad employees
after secret session In this city, which last
ed several hours, decided this morning to lift
the great strike on the Reading system, pend
ing arbitration with the company. The five
crews over whom the trouble originated are
to be supported in the meantime by financial
aid from the employees. This decision was
reached after a conference with the superin-
tendent at his Office last night. The commit
tee then returned TO their meeting place. and
after several hours discussion decided to
submit their case 10 arbitration.
In the afternoon, yesterday, motion had
been carried to propose arbitration TO the Of
ticials. Mr.. Sweigard, the superintendent,
met the committee, and assured them that
such plan would be entirely agreeable
to the railroad.
The decision Of the Knights in Reading
yesterday, not 10 strike Is supposed 10 have
had some influence upon the action Of the
board. One of the committee said this
morning, I'VE decided that 1t would be for
the better to pay five striking crews their
wages rather than ieopardize so many inter-
ests. Mr.. Syiegard has always treated US
sqaarely, and we feel that we can trust him.
All side issues will be sunk, and only the
main point In the dispute will be arbitrated
upon. We have not yet agreed upon the
time or method Of arbitration. That will be
settled at the convenience Of both sides, but
as speedily as possible. We have sent tele-
grams TO all our assemblies to resume work
at once"
Every man returned this morning, and all
OF the trains are running as usual.
NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-President COrbin, Of
the road, however, denies that the company
has agreed to arbitrate. At his ONCE this
despatch has been received:
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 81.
Every man returned this morning, and all trains
are running as usual. All Of the engines were
taken out by the old crews and the superintend-
ent says that by 10 o'clock all work was going on
as usual. AT all the stations In the city the men
are showing up, and the present Indications are
that all business VIII soon be working as usual.
We have Just heard from Reading, All reported
for work this morning as usual
Praaidank Corhiu efafoQ that fha
port that the Reading Company has agreed
to aTbltrate with its striking employees Is alb
s0lutely false. There Is nothing to discuss"
he says, much less to arbitrate. The men
discharged are not, and will not be taken
back; new men were employed when the old
ones went out, and will not be discharged to
make room for the old ones. All Of the lat
ter have been notified that II they desire TO
retain their places they must return 10 work
immediately and uneonditionally, and all
have returned under that order so far as
places are leg for them. The leaders at Port
Richmond, NlO brought on the strike, have
been discharged, and will not be allowed in
the c0mpany's service"
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. GA circular was
issued from the general office OF the Reading
Company this afternoon, stating that the
strike ordered from Port Richmond had de-
yeloped the fact that many employees were
compelled by others to Join the Knights OF
Labor. While the Reading company never
objected to employees voluntarily connecting
themselves with any labor organization, IL
will protect them at all hazards and any cost
from being forced into any union, and any
emplOye Of the company guilty OF using un-
due and improper influence upon any en-
ployes to force them to join any society
nished, be instantly dismissed and never
allowed to return, Any emplOye furnishing
-Ssei' Attenuation will be fully protected.
READING, Pa, Dec 27.-The most excit-
ing scenes Of the strike occurred here this
afternoon when about 25 old Brotherhood
engineers who were obliged to leave the COM
pany's employ in 1877. we've given engines
and permanent positions. In place Of en-
gineers who had struck. All tho old Broth
erhood engineers are assured Of permanent
positions. Every man who during the past
week refused to obey orders or left his post
because Of Knights Of Labor orders was
refused employment There were quite a
large number Of these, and some Of their
appeals to be taken back were piliful. Nom
union men ready to take the strikers places
came today from neighboring towns by hun
dreds.
Latest Reports.
PoTTsvILLE. Pa, Dec. 27.-The commit
tee sent to Philadelphia to confer with Sup
erintendent Sweigard In reference to the re-
sumption Of work by the strikers returned
this evening and reported that Sweigafd in
sisted upon the premptory discharge Of Ber-
nard j. Sharkey, Ambrose Hoods and BEN
nett, the committee who first waited upon
him In reference TO the Port Richmond
trouble, together with five crews who re-
fused TO handle flour cars. The committee
consented, and then asked guarantee that
all other strikers be re-employed. The super
intendent refused and the conference abrupt
" terminated. The report greatly incensed
the meeting.
A committee has left here on their way for
all points south as far as Philadelphia, and
north TO Tamaqua. Shamokin and MahOnay
Plains, TO appeal to the local assemblies TO
stand by the discharged strikers. 1t Is ex-
pected that general tie-up along the whole
line will be again repeated tomorrow.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 7.-The headquar-
tiers Of the executive committee Of the Read
Ing Employers Convention presented
scene Of great excitement this afternoon, be-
fore the statement of Manager Mcleod.
emanating from President Corbin, was
made known TO the members. A message
was at onee sent to the different assemblies
to convene at once Said a prominent men,
ber: "rhe company has been trying for
some time to bring on a conflict with the
Knights Of Labor. They have done IL at
last. The strike is only preliminary"
A principal Knight here says the Reading
strike Is q well-Organized and deep-laid
scheme Of the Pennsylvania, Reading and
Jersey Central railroads 10 break up the
Knights Of Labor. : He says the company
hepes to drive the order to commit some
overt act and then imprson the leaders and